Daniel’s Seventy Sevens

Daniel 9:24-27 is one of the most fascinating paragraphs in the Bible. It promises a great and final hope for salvation from sin, while at the same time leaves us wondering about many details.

The purpose of Daniel 9 is not to provide a detailed eschatological chronology, but to provide certain hope in the restoration of Jerusalem during the post-exilic period and to link this hope to the unknown details at the time of the future triumphs of God’s Kingdom to come. (See my earlier blog: Stay On Track When Preaching Daniel.)

Seventy Sevens

Daniel 9:24 NASB, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.”

The very first words, literally “seventy sevens,” create an enormous interpretive difficulty. What are these? Is this referring to a chronological or chronographic presentation? They could be a literal or approximate 490 years or 490 days (70 weeks), or 70 unknown prophetic units of seven or some sort of apocalyptic symbolism.

Regardless of one’s viewpoint, the people of God had received judgment from God for 70 years under Babylon, but now they would experience seven times this, i.e. “seventy sevens,” in mercy from God. The unmeasured mercy of God would be revealed in the redemptive work of His Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Six Most Important Things

In verse 24, six things are noted to take place in reference to the people of God and Jerusalem.  They relate most pointedly to Daniel’s concern over sin expressed in his prayer since the beginning of chapter 9.  

First, the decree of Seventy Sevens is to: (1) finish/restrain/conceal sin; (2) put an end to/seal/remove sin and (3) make atonement for/cover sin. All three of these speak of God’s dealing with sin in a uniquely decisive way. They speak of the atonement of Christ Jesus, forgiveness for sin, and freedom from sin. As it says in Hebrews 9:26 ESV “. . . he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Second, the decree of Seventy Sevens is to: (4) bring in everlasting righteousness (its origin and duration); (5) seal up vision and prophet (fulfill and finalize) and (6) anoint the most holy (Messiah). All three of these speak of specific events that point to a unique time in redemptive history. They speak of the righteousness of Christ and His people, His fulfillment of the prophets and their messages and His multi-faceted role as Messiah.

Almost all interpreters assign the accomplishment of these things to the first advent of Christ and see in them a telescoping of history until the final Day of Redemption. The differences occur in working out the details of this history and seeing them in relation to verses 25-27.

More Difficult Details 

My understanding of the Seventy Sevens of Daniel is that they find their fulfillment in the time of Jesus. So then, here is an interpretive reading of how verses 25-27 might best be understood:

25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree [Cyrus in 538 BC] to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [Jesus] there will be seven weeks [time of rebuilding] and sixty-two weeks [until Jesus]; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 

26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah [Jesus] will be cut off [crucified] and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come [Romans under Titus] will destroy the city and the sanctuary [Jerusalem and Temple]. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war [history]; desolations are determined. 

27 "And he will make a firm covenant [Jesus will put in effect the New Covenant] with the many [people of God] for one week [the final period], but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering [make it obsolete by His sacrifice]; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate [Titus in AD 70], even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

Regardless of one’s detailed understanding of the Seventy Sevens of Daniel, the integrity of the book of Daniel and its message must be maintained. Daniel does not fill in the detail because that is not his purpose, or perhaps even within his ability. Rather, we are to observe the triumph of the Kingdom of God in the restoration of His people and their nation in the post-exilic era. This is the first stage of redemptive history in the New Covenant era. This is God’s gracious and merciful dealing with His people after His chastisement of them in the Exile.

Consider Other Options

But, there are many other ways to interpret Daniel 9:24-27. Here are some basic options, with my selections above noted with an asterisk (*).

24 "Seventy weeks¹ have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy² place.

1. a. Chronology: 490 years

b. Chronography*: stylized history, a lengthy period composed of several parts

2. a. Temple

b. People of God

c. Messiah*

d. Something holy

25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree³ to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah⁴ the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 

3. a. Jeremiah’s word (29:10), 605 BC, or 594 BC

b. Fall of Jerusalem, 587/6 BC

c. Cyrus*, 538 BC

d. Darius, 521 BC

e. Artaxerxes, 458/7 or 446/5 BC

4. a. Cyrus

b. Jesus*

26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah⁵ will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 

5. a. Onias III, displaced in 175 BC

b. Jesus*

c. Antichrist

d. Another one

27 "And he will make a firm covenant⁶ with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate⁷, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

6. a. God, in His faithfulness to the Jews during the Antiochene crisis

b. Antiochus, in a deceitful covenant with the Jews

c. Jesus,* in effectual confirmation of the New Covenant

d. Antichrist, in a deceitful covenant with God’s people

7. a. Antiochus

b. Titus* and the Roman destruction in AD 70

c. Antichrist

Remember the Central Focus

Nevertheless, this period of vindication moves us to consider greater events that would transpire in the fulfillment of the New Covenant through the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Six of these things were mentioned in verse 24. And we especially, as members of the New Covenant community, glory in the reception of the blessings of the Cross and in the Spirit, while we await the return and presence of Christ Jesus and the full manifestation of His Kingdom.

Keep perspective on the six items related to the Messiah and the Gospel from verse 24, regardless of your interpretive position on the Seventy Sevens. In Christ, your sins are forgiven and your righteousness has come! This is the glory of the vision!

Our Messiah is a Messiah of two Comings. Keep up your hope of final and full redemption at the return of Christ, based upon the redeeming work of Christ on the Cross. Keep up your hope of final and full expression of the triumphant Kingdom of God at the return of Christ, based upon the inauguration of the Kingdom at the first coming of Christ.

The central focus of the 70 Weeks is Messianic. It is about Jesus Christ. It is the proclamation that the Lord God mercifully forgives the sin of His Covenant people through His Messiah!

Stay On Track When Preaching Daniel

The book of Daniel is a popular book, often because of its well-known heroic stories of Daniel and his friends, and because of the eschatological visions which are often the subject of speculative inquiry concerning future events.  

While the stories are inspiring, motivational, and filled with moral instruction, and while the eschatology fulfills and enhances our curiosity and hope, we must not forget to understand these sets of observations within the overall purpose of the book.  

The purpose of the Book of Daniel is not to relate messages of how to live wisely nor to unfold a detailed chart of the end times; but, it is to relate the Divine view of history, that God makes the kingdoms of men rise and fall in accordance with His holy and wise will.  

Where to Focus when Preaching History

Biblical history was not written simply and primarily to provide us with moral instruction by example.  Unfortunately, this is all too common an approach to the historical books of the Old Testament--to extract principles for living.  

The Bible should not be denigrated to the status of a manual on moral instruction and principles for Christian living.  If the same lessons can be learned apart from Scripture then why would we need God’s special revelation of Scripture?

It is severely disappointing to hear sermons spent expounding on the moral character of Daniel and exhorting us to boldness and ever more powerful levels of prayer and holiness.  Worse yet is watching people being force-fed one particular Christian view of the end of the world with a zeal that should be reserved for the Gospel itself.  

Both of these are examples of weak preaching thinking it is strong.  They are approaches that will not carry the Mission forward, they do a disservice to the people of God, and they are not faithful to the Biblical text.

Don’t misunderstand me, I am simply pleading that we stay on track.  Surely, there are moral examples given to us in these historical passages which should be mentioned, but the focus of the Scripture is not typically on the example, but on the larger story of the History of Redemption.  It is within this grand story where the main point, and so main application, of each historical narrative will be found. 

Biblical history has been given to us by God for a greater understanding of His purposes in the world and the unfolding of His Story of Redemption.  And so, when preaching it, the preacher and people need to keep in mind where they are in the story of God’s revelation and redemption.

Each Chapter Tells the Same Story

Through the Book of Daniel the world learns that the One True God rules over all.  Every single chapter and episode throughout the book makes this point:  The Kingdom of God triumphs over the kingdoms of men.  

Daniel’s role in the Exile was to declare God’s sovereignty over the nations and revitalize hope in the people of God to persevere, because God would again glorify Himself as their God and as the God of all the earth.  

Daniel finished his book in about 530 BC and complied it for the purpose of encouraging the people of God to live in anticipation of the Kingdom of God; and this remains the message for today.  It is to inspire hope in the people of God that God Himself will establish His Kingdom over all the kingdoms of men.  

Our Sovereign God is moving world history toward its appointed conclusion, toward His final goal of the universal reign of His Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is when the Kingdom of God will extend throughout the whole earth under the powerful rule of His Son and His Church.  

Daniel 7:27 ESV “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’”

Our Kingdom Task:  Missions

Daniel’s stage in Redemptive History speaks to our stage in Redemptive History.  God is sovereign over the kingdoms of this world.  Eventually, He will crush them all with His Kingdom and His Messiah; and so, in the meantime, we as His people are to trust, serve, and hope in Him to accomplish all that He has promised.

God has given His people different tasks at different points in Redemptive History.  They all work together in the progress of the Kingdom of God.  The focal task of Daniel and the post-exilic remnant was the rebuilding of the Temple. 

Our task is the greatest task of all--to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom!  It is the greatest task of all because Jesus Christ the Son of God Himself came to earth preaching it.  He inaugurated the final form of the Kingdom, and we are to preach this inaugurated Kingdom until He returns in the final glories of the Kingdom.

The Book of Daniel is ultimately about the Mission of God, and this why I love to preach and teach it!

You Too Can Interpret Dreams

A whack to the back of the knees and I am on my way!

The ski lift carries me and a newly made Asian friend on a long trip down the mountain after visiting a particular Buddhist shrine together.  Such trips often provide wonderful opportunities to talk about the nature of goodness, beauty and truth--and eventually about God and the ultimate meaning of life.  So, I take many of them.

On The Spot, On The Ski Lift

We find a lot to talk about during that almost hour long ride down hill.  Mainly we talk about a dream she had recently that had been bothering her.  I don’t recall the details now after a few years, but it seemed to me nothing that out of the ordinary.  But, then she asked me if I could tell her what it means.  She was looking for more than ideas, but really an interpretation that would make sense and provide meaning for her life.

I had never been asked about dreams so seriously, almost desperately, before.  Not knowing what to say, I prayed silently and very fast for wisdom.  I was honest with her and said that I couldn’t really interpret dreams, but if she told me more about it, I would do my best to help her find any meaning that I might surmise.

To my surprise, as she was telling me her dream, it reminded me of a biblical story in the Old Testament.  I really wish I could remember, but it was just one of the more ordinary ones.  So, I simply told her the Bible story it seemed to parallel and asked if she had heard the story before.  She said no, but then wanted to more about the Bible story.  So, I told it again in more detail.

She then asked the best question, “how does this relate to my life?”  This was a perfect opportunity to explain how this story fit into God’s larger story of redemption in Jesus Christ.  I talked further about how Jesus Christ has given my own life greater meaning, really its ultimate meaning.  

Then I asked her what she thought, and if she thought this might be a good explanation of her dream.  She thought so, definitely.  However, she wanted to do some more thinking about whether she could or should entrust her life to Jesus Christ.  At about that moment we landed at the bottom of the mountain.  And we and some other friends would talk more later.

First Training In Dream Interpretation

A few others from our mission team were asked similar questions on the ski lift.  This was the first day of a week of many dream interpretation questions.  Dreams meant a lot to these people we were meeting.  

It seemed that God was stirring their hearts about eternal concerns and bringing them to us.  Regardless, they were so eager to talk, that if we didn’t talk through their dreams with them, they would find others who would, and likely they would be led astray.  

So, we decided to train our team with a crash course in dream interpretation.  This sounds ludicrous, and it really did seem so to us, as well.  The joke was that my name was Daniel after all and it was time to live up to my name!  Of course, his situation was entirely different, much more serious, and of far greater importance.  What we were doing was nothing of the sort.

We simply taught our team to not be fearful but prayerful; and to ask good questions and listen well, and above all to be compassionate toward our new trusting friends.  We instructed our team to be honest and not claim to really know how to interpret dreams.  

However, we also taught them to be bold in talking about the Scriptures and the God wrote wrote them for us, for our salvation and our lives.  So, they should listen for similar stories in the Bible they could tell, and then talk easily about their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  They should wrap up the conversation by turning the dream back over to their friend to ponder in light of the biblical message they heard.

A lot happened that week.  God opened up many more opportunities for His Gospel that we could never have planned.  We were able to share with hundreds of people.  And all together we witnessed 25 professions of faith and the beginnings of two new churches.

Be Prepared, You Might Be Asked Next

You too can interpret dreams.  No, its clearly not the same type of work as the biblical Daniel.  But, that is not what these dear people were asking for anyway, or many others who might approach you.  So don’t freak out, just pray and then talk about the meaning of life from the Bible and from your experience with God.  

Most often people simply want to hear about the meaning of life from someone who to them seems to have greater insight.  Since you know God then you are the one who knows the meaning of life.